The Fall of Armageddon

Far above the sleeping land

Iron wings and a captain’s hand

Steam rolled black through the freezing sky

Where dragons rule and brave men die

A lone airship cut the storm in two

Hunting a beast the whole world knew

Lord Strongcastle forged that craft

From iron plates and furnace drafts

Copper pipes and a roaring core

A steam-heart beating like a war

“Armageddon,” the captain cried

“Tonight your reign of fire will die.”

But the clouds broke wide with a thunder sound

And the shadow of wings came circling round

Golden eyes and a mocking grin

The ancient dragon closed him in

Steel in the sky, fire in the wind

Man and a dragon where legends begin

Harpoons thundered through smoke and flame

But none could strike that demon frame

The dragon laughed in the dying sun

Toying with Strongcastle one by one

But faith burns brighter than iron or flame

And heaven remembered Strongcastle’s name

The dragon moved like lightning wild

Cruel and ancient, dark and sly

One sweep shattered the harpoon guns

One breath burned through the deck and drums

The airship groaned in the boiling sky

While Armageddon circled high

“Little captain,” the monster roared

“You built a coffin, not a sword.”

Smoke filled the deck, the engines cried

And hope burned low at Strongcastle’s side

Steel in the sky, fire in the wind

Man and a dragon where legends begin

Hull plates torn and the weapons gone

Still Strongcastle battled on

The dragon roared in victory’s claim

Certain the man would die in flame

But faith burns brighter than iron or flame

And heaven remembered Strongcastle’s name

Kneeling down by the dying steam

Hands on the heart of the broken machine

“Lord above if this is the end

Forgive my soul and guide my hand.”

The dragon screamed from the darkened dome

Certain the sky would be his throne

Down he came like a storm of flame

Straight for the heart of the iron frame

Strongcastle leapt from the shattered deck

As the dragon lunged for the final wreck

Then the boiler roared like heaven’s gun

Iron and fire and the beast undone

Thunder rolled through the shattered sky

As Armageddon fell to die

But Strongcastle fell through empty air

Through ash and smoke and a whispered prayer

Then through the clouds like a silver star

Came a mighty horse from realms afar

Prophet caught him in heaven’s light

Carried him safe through the fading night

So the tale is told wherever men stand:

Faith can conquer the fiercest land.